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Chad Winthrope

PA UC claim closure after missing weekly certification? Need help ASAP!

I completely forgot to file my weekly claim certification last week. Ugh, I don't know how it slipped my mind! Will PA UC automatically close my entire claim because I missed one week? I tried logging in today and everything still looks active, but I'm worried they'll shut everything down. Can someone please tell me what happens next? Do I need to open a brand new claim or can I just resume filing next week? This is my first time on unemployment and I'm so scared of losing my benefits over one stupid mistake.

Don't panic! Missing one week won't automatically close your entire PA UC claim. Your claim remains open for your benefit year (52 weeks from when you applied), but you won't receive payment for any week you don't certify. For the missed week, you unfortunately can't go back and claim it now - that money is essentially forfeited. But you CAN and SHOULD submit your certification for the current week during your regular filing window. Your claim is still active as long as you're within your benefit year.

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Thank you so much! That's a huge relief. So my claim itself stays open, I just don't get paid for the week I missed? That makes sense. I'll make sure to file for this week then!

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same thing happened 2 me last month. just keep filing like normal for this week. u dont get $ for the week u missed but ur case stays open

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This!!! I missed filing twice during my benefit year and my claim stayed active. Just pick up next week and don't miss again!

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PA UC WILL close your claim but only after 2 weeks of not filing!! I learned this the HARD WAY! If you miss 1 week, no problem - just file next week like normal. Miss 2 WEEKS IN A ROW and they make you reopen your claim!!! It's so frustrating because nowhere on their website do they make this clear!!! The system is designed to trip people up!!!

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This is partially correct. Two consecutive missed weeks will make your claim inactive, but you don't have to file a brand new claim - you just need to reactivate it. This is different from having your claim closed completely. You can reactivate through your dashboard by selecting "Reopen a claim" - much simpler than starting over. But yes, filing consistently is important to avoid these hassles.

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When I missed filing my weekly claim, I tried calling PA UC to fix it but kept getting busy signals for 3 days straight. Finally used Claimyr.com to get through - it connected me to an agent in about 20 minutes! They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/CEPETxZdo9E?si=WL1ZzVZWG3KiHrg2. The agent confirmed my claim was still active and told me exactly when to file next. Just sharing since the regular phone line is impossible to get through.

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I've been hearing about that service! Was it worth it? I'm worried I might need to talk to someone later if I have more problems.

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For me it was, because I needed specific answers about my situation that I couldn't find online. Definitely better than taking time off work to keep calling all day. The rep I got was actually helpful which surprised me!

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im confused about somthing. does reopening a claim mean u lose all ur remaining balance?? or does it just continue from where u were b4? i missed 2 weeks when i was in hospital n had to reopen but got confused by all the questions

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Reopening a claim doesn't reset your balance or benefit year. You'll still have access to whatever remaining benefits you had before. The system just needs to verify you're still eligible (not working full-time, still meeting work search requirements, etc). Your original monetary determination with your weekly benefit amount and total claim balance remains the same.

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Set a reminder on your phone for filing day! I do Sunday mornings at 9am every week. Never miss it now!

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That's a good idea! I'm going to set an alarm for Sunday morning right now.

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To summarize the correct information for anyone else who finds this post: 1. Missing ONE week: Your claim remains open, but you lose that week's payment. 2. Missing TWO consecutive weeks: Your claim becomes inactive and needs to be reactivated (not completely refiled). 3. Your benefit year remains the same (52 weeks from initial filing). 4. Your remaining balance is preserved when reactivating. 5. Work search requirements must still be met for any week you claim. Always check the PA UC website for official information as policies can change: www.uc.pa.gov

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Thank you for breaking it down so clearly! This really helps me understand the whole process better.

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I went through this exact same panic last year! Missing one week definitely doesn't close your claim - you just can't get paid for that missed week. The key is to get back on track immediately and file for the current week. I'd also recommend downloading the PA UC mobile app if you haven't already - it sends push notifications when it's time to file, which has saved me from missing weeks again. Just make sure you're still doing your work search activities for any week you plan to claim!

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The mobile app is such a lifesaver! I had no idea it sent notifications - I've just been relying on my phone alarm. Downloading it now. And yes, definitely keeping up with work search requirements. Thanks for the tip!

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Don't stress too much about this! I made the same mistake during my second month of benefits and was terrified I'd ruined everything. Your claim stays open for the full benefit year - missing one week just means you forfeit that week's payment, but everything else continues normally. The most important thing is to file for THIS week during your regular certification window. I also learned to set up multiple reminders after my scare - I have a phone alarm AND a calendar notification every Sunday morning. You'll be fine as long as you don't miss two weeks in a row!

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This is so reassuring to hear from people who've been through the same thing! I was literally losing sleep over this thinking I'd have to start all over again. Setting up multiple reminders is such a smart idea - I'm definitely doing the phone alarm AND calendar notification combo. Really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences here, it's made me feel so much better about the whole situation!

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I had this exact same fear when I started on UC! What everyone else is saying is correct - missing one week won't close your claim, you just lose that week's payment. I actually called PA UC when it happened to me (took forever to get through) and the agent confirmed that as long as you file the following week, you're good to go. The system is designed to keep your claim active for the full benefit year unless you miss two consecutive weeks. Just make sure you're ready to file this Sunday and you'll be back on track! Also, keep documenting your work search activities even for weeks you miss filing - you never know when they might ask for records.

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That's such good advice about keeping work search records even for missed weeks! I hadn't thought about that but it makes total sense. I've been documenting everything in a spreadsheet but I should probably keep doing it consistently even when I mess up filing. Thanks for mentioning the part about calling PA UC too - good to know they confirmed the same thing everyone here is saying. I feel so much more confident now that I know missing one week isn't the end of the world!

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I went through this exact panic when I first started collecting! Missing one weekly certification definitely does NOT close your entire claim - that was my biggest fear too. Your claim stays active for the full 52-week benefit year regardless. You just can't get paid for the specific week you missed filing for, which is frustrating but not catastrophic. The important thing is to log in and file your certification for THIS week during your normal filing window. I'd also suggest setting up recurring phone reminders - I do mine for Saturday evenings so I remember to file Sunday morning. Don't beat yourself up over it, this happens to more people than you'd think! Just stay consistent going forward and you'll be fine.

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This is exactly what I needed to hear! I was literally up all night worrying that I'd destroyed my entire claim over one missed week. It's such a relief to know that the 52-week benefit year stays intact no matter what. I'm definitely setting up those Saturday evening reminders - that's brilliant timing since it gives you a buffer before the Sunday deadline. Really appreciate you sharing your experience, it helps so much to know other people have gone through this same panic and everything turned out fine!

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This happened to me about 6 months ago and I had the exact same panic attack! Missing one week absolutely will NOT close your claim - I promise you're going to be okay. Your claim stays open for the entire benefit year (52 weeks from when you first applied), you just lose the payment for that one missed week. Think of it like missing a day of work - you don't get fired, you just don't get paid for that day. The most important thing right now is to make sure you file your certification for THIS week during your normal filing window. I learned my lesson and now I have three different reminders set up: a phone alarm for Saturday night, a sticky note on my bathroom mirror, and a calendar alert. It might seem excessive but I never want to go through that stress again! You've got this - just file this week and stay consistent moving forward.

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Thank you so much for the detailed explanation and the work analogy - that really puts it in perspective! I love the idea of multiple backup reminders, especially the sticky note on the bathroom mirror. That's genius because you literally can't miss it! I'm definitely going to set up a similar system. It's amazing how much better I feel after reading everyone's responses here. I was convinced I'd have to start my whole claim over again, but now I understand it's really just like missing a day of work. I'm going to file this Sunday and never let this happen again. Really appreciate you taking the time to share your experience!

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Hey! I totally get the panic - I went through this same exact situation about 8 months ago and was absolutely terrified I'd ruined everything. But I can confirm what everyone else is saying: missing ONE week does NOT close your entire claim. Your claim remains active for the full 52-week benefit year, you just forfeit that one week's payment (which sucks but isn't the end of the world). The key is to get right back on track and file your certification for THIS week during your normal filing window. After my scare, I set up multiple failsafes - I have a recurring phone alarm for Sunday at 8am, plus I put it in my Google calendar with email reminders. Also learned to treat it like any other important weekly responsibility, like taking out trash or grocery shopping. Don't be too hard on yourself - this is surprisingly common, especially for first-time filers still getting used to the routine!

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This is such helpful advice! I really appreciate you mentioning that it's common for first-time filers - that makes me feel so much less stupid about the whole thing. The Google calendar with email reminders is a great idea too, I'm going to set that up as a backup to my phone alarm. It's crazy how something that seemed like such a disaster yesterday now feels totally manageable thanks to everyone's responses. I'm definitely going to treat this like any other weekly responsibility from now on. Thank you for sharing your experience and helping me realize I'm not the first person to go through this panic!

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I can totally relate to this panic! I missed filing once during my third month of benefits and had the exact same fear that my entire claim would be closed. But everyone here is absolutely right - missing one week just means you lose that week's payment, your claim stays open for the full benefit year. What really helped me after my mistake was creating a simple Sunday morning routine: I wake up, make coffee, and immediately file my weekly certification before I do anything else. It's become such an automatic habit now that I don't even think about it. Also, if you're worried about remembering work search activities, I keep a running note in my phone where I jot down every application I submit or job fair I attend - makes it super easy when filing time comes around. You're going to be totally fine, just make sure to file this Sunday and you'll be back on track!

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This is such great advice about creating a routine! I love the idea of making it the first thing you do on Sunday morning - that way there's no chance of forgetting later in the day. The running note in your phone for work search activities is brilliant too, I'm always scrambling to remember what I applied for during the week. It's so comforting to hear from people who've been through this exact same panic and came out fine on the other side. I'm definitely going to file first thing Sunday morning and establish that same kind of routine. Thanks for sharing your system!

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I went through this exact same situation about 4 months ago and it was absolutely terrifying! I thought for sure I had completely ruined my benefits over one missed week. But everyone here is giving you the correct information - missing one weekly certification does NOT close your entire claim. Your claim stays active for the full 52-week benefit year, you just can't get paid for that specific week you missed (which is frustrating but not catastrophic). The most important thing is to log in and file your certification for THIS week during your regular filing window. After my scare, I became obsessive about reminders - I have a phone alarm set for Saturday at 7pm that says "FILE UC TOMORROW" and another one Sunday at 9am. I also started keeping a small notebook by my computer where I track my filing dates and work search activities. Don't beat yourself up over this mistake - it happens to more people than you think, especially when you're new to the system. Just get back on track this week and you'll be fine!

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Thank you so much for sharing your experience! The Saturday evening reminder saying "FILE UC TOMORROW" is such a smart idea - it gives you that extra heads up before the actual filing day. I really like the notebook idea too for tracking everything in one place. It's incredible how much better I feel after reading everyone's stories here. What seemed like a complete disaster yesterday now feels like just a minor bump in the road. I'm definitely setting up multiple reminders and creating a better system so this never happens again. Really appreciate you taking the time to help calm my nerves!

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I just went through this same exact panic 2 weeks ago! Missing one week absolutely will NOT close your claim - I was so relieved when I found that out. Your claim stays active for the full 52-week benefit year, you just lose payment for that one missed week (which stinks but isn't the end of the world). The key is to file your certification for THIS week during your normal window. After my scare, I set up a recurring alarm on my phone for every Sunday at 8am with the message "UC FILING DAY!" I also started using a simple checklist app to track my work search activities throughout the week so I'm always ready when filing time comes. Don't stress too much - this happens to way more people than you'd think, especially when you're still getting used to the routine. Just make sure you file this Sunday and stay consistent going forward!

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This is so reassuring to hear from someone who just went through this! The "UC FILING DAY!" alarm message is perfect - clear and impossible to ignore. I'm definitely going to steal that idea along with the checklist app for work search activities. It's amazing how much stress this community has helped me avoid by sharing these real experiences. I was literally convinced my entire claim was doomed, but now I understand it's just one missed payment and I need to get back on track. Setting up my alarms and filing system right now so this never happens again. Thank you for the encouragement!

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I totally understand your panic - I had the exact same reaction when I missed my weekly filing about a year ago! The good news is that missing ONE week definitely won't close your entire claim. Your claim stays active for the full 52-week benefit year, you just forfeit that one week's payment (frustrating but not devastating). What's important now is to make sure you file your certification for THIS week during your normal filing window. After my experience, I learned to treat weekly filing like paying rent - it's just a non-negotiable weekly responsibility. I set up a Sunday morning alarm at 7:30am that says "FILE UC NOW!" and I always do it before checking social media or doing anything else. Also keep a simple log of your work search activities throughout the week so you're never scrambling for information when filing time comes. You're going to be totally fine - just get back on track this Sunday and don't let it happen again!

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The "treat it like paying rent" analogy is perfect! That really helps put it in perspective as just another essential weekly task. I love the idea of filing before checking social media - that's such a smart way to make sure it gets done first thing. I'm definitely going to set up that same kind of "FILE UC NOW!" alarm and make it my Sunday morning priority. It's so helpful to hear from someone who went through this a year ago and has had time to develop a solid system. Thanks for sharing your experience and helping me see this as just a learning opportunity rather than a disaster!

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